These were taken on saturday, moments before the parade.
[img]http://www.propaholics.wolfchasers.com/uploader/users/Noeland/marine%20staging%202.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.propaholics.wolfchasers.com/uploader/users/Noeland/marine%20staging%201.jpg[/img]

And that's all I have so far of the marines! I know it's pathetic. I'm ashamed.

It's a very long story as to why, but dragon con has been a bust for me in many ways this year.

Friday I was supposed to go in the afternoon, my brother and his family didn't arrive in ATL until about 8pm, so it didn't happen. I did steal my girlfriends car long enough to deliver the banner and box from Jesse. But it was literally a drive by delivery! It sucked.

I got to say hello to Derek and FNG though!

Saturday we were running very late and got to the parade staging area literally seconds before it started, and my niece barely got into the anime section before they start hoofing it.

Then, we got stopped by the police, so I didn't have any chance to snap photos of the marines in the parade, or say hello to them before the thing started, got a bit seperated from my niece and panic ensued a little.

After the parade we got kicked out of the hotel for not having badges, so my brother and I got into a line that wrapped around the corner. 2.5 hours later we couldn't take it, and left the line.

Sunday morning we get there fairly early, I say hello to Kevin and Tony. Kevin proceeds to give me an animated rundown on the colony sweep, and it's a great story!! I wish I could have taped it with the good old XL-1.

I told them "I'll be back!" But it never happened.

Today we tried to find an anime event for my niece Abbey, by the time we found the right room, the event was long over. Then we made a real effort for her to find some other anime folks in costume to hang out with. Never did.

The next thing you know, it's 5 hours later.

Dragon Con is a complete time warp! It takes so long to sift through the program, and asking the information folks where stuff is useless. They don't know. The program reads like a text book, and unless you know your way around the con, it's not easy to find stuff.

So we ended up in the Hyatt lobby, and my niece finally was able to see costumes and take photos and do what she enjoys.

My brother and I are flipping through the program and he lands on a screening of the film "Done the Impossible" about firefly and serenity fans. I say "Hey, someone from one of the message boards I frequent just posted about this and the website looks great, lets check it out!"

Took us almost an hour just to find a person who could tell us which room it was screening in!

We find it and sit down minutes before it starts. I call Charlie because I know he loves firefly and serenity too, but he's already on I-75 heading back to Florida!!! Suddenly I feel realy depressed for not getting to hang out at all.

The screening runs, the film is GREAT. The question and answer session was great, I asked questions. They answered. They previewed the DVD, some very cool stuff on there. It lets out, everything is closed, the con is thinning out, my brother has to leave at 5am, so we split.

So tomorrow, I'm on my own at the con. I hope some marines are still around.

Njc-------------
Edited by: [url=http://p220.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=noeland>Noeland[/url] at: 9/3/06 10:23 pm

Hey Noeland,

Don't feel bac man these things happen. I was very disappointed with the amount . . err lack of knowledge the Dcon staff had this year on room locations and the overall program/events happening there.

They have walkie talkies so use them right?

Next year will be better Noeland. Trust Me. If I knew you were there on Sunday morning I would have let you borrow my con pass and given one to your brother and niece. We had 3.

Well you did at least get a few marine pics and sit in on a great panel.
[url=http://www.m41a.com][img]http://www.m41a.com/banners/neokramer.jpg[/img]
[/url]

I did not take those pictures by the way, my brother Andy snapped both of those while his wife and I were trying to make our way to the end of the parade route in the event that Andy got seperated from Abbey. They did not want her to get to the end of the parade and not have familiar faces there. That would have been very upsetting for her.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I enjoyed every second I spent with my brother Andy, his wife Laurie, and thier daughter Abbey. I don't get to see them much.

One of the reasons I wasn't able to spend time at the table was because I didn't want to disappoint Abbey by splitting from them.

I'm not really ashamed by the way, please pour sarcasm over some of those comments!

We made the best of DragonCon, but we enjoyed spending time together very much.

Once we learned the Hyatt Lobby was the area where the costumed folks hang out and take pictures, Abbey had a great time!

[img]http://www.propaholics.wolfchasers.com/uploader/users/Noeland/abbey%20and%20spiderman%20with%20musketeer.jpg[/img]

Noeland,
I do feel your pain. My friends and I got there for the parade. (My armor isn't ready so I wasn't in the parade, but hopefully next year).

As soon as the parade was over we ran over to get into the con. We were in line for right at 3 hours. There were also *alot* of people behind us so It wouldn't surprise me if some people waited 5-6 hours just to get in. Once we got in, we did get some autographs, but I missed Ms. Scott, she had left once I found out where she was. I did get to stop by the USCM table and talk to Alex for a while. I think next year my friends and I plan on spending most our time there on Sunday. less lines and less crowded.

After we left we did agree it was good to be able to catch up on things and talk, even if we were waiting around for quite a while.
PFC
B. Tyler
A04/TQ1.0.22148E1

NJ........when did I speak with you??

I only recall waving at you in the car..............or do you mean Tony 'Spud'???
I'm confused now!!

I'm glad you had a great time with your family and we're able to see the parade and some of the con. Next year
[img]http://www.colonialmarines.net/Banner.jpg[/img]

No man, I mean you. I saw you twice at the table. Are you messing with me??:(

Uhh no I'm not messing with you
I may have spoken to you but I had no idea it was you..........

DAMN!!!!! I'm sorry

[img]http://www.colonialmarines.net/Banner.jpg[/img]

Really? Well, I had introduced myself.

I just figured since I didn't watch the table on saturday you were pissed at me and didn't want to talk to me.


Njc------------

No I apologise.
You said who you were and I had no idea still.

Please make sure I know who it is next time
Not pissed at you in any way shape or form............unless you count the spot on my wall waiting for some artwork
[img]http://www.colonialmarines.net/Banner.jpg[/img]